I often think that the whole purpose of participating in FT is to indulge my enjoyment of flying for fun. The routings I have are insane from any normal perspective, but I love them, and continue to find joy in little things about flying. Because I fly so much for work, I think it's also a way of coping, a kind of cognitive dissonance.

I don't fly just for fun. Commercial air travel is just a way to keep my job. What's so fun about packing your belongings into one small bag, getting sexually assaulted at a security checkpoint, and then spending the next four hours with your knees in your chest while the 500 pound guy next to you spills over into your seat?

Yes, but not onboard an airliner. Firing up the Jabiru on a nice sunny day with no wind and a good mate to keep me company, pottering about and deciding on destination based on what we'd like for lunch, that's flying for fun. Airliner passenger flying .... that's mainly a hassle, sometimes a pain.

Yes, but not onboard an airliner. Firing up the Jabiru on a nice sunny day with no wind and a good mate to keep me company, pottering about and deciding on destination based on what we'd like for lunch, that's flying for fun. Airliner passenger flying .... that's mainly a hassle, sometimes a pain.

I wouldn't trust myself to build something my life depends on, so, no. I own a 1/4 share in the kite. 2 of the other members are commercial pilots but, most importantly the 4th guy is a B2 licensed aircraft engineer. He gets to do all the really important things us airheads cannot be trusted with, which is maintenance. And he's very, very, good at it.

The aircraft was bought used, built by a Swiss civil engineer. It was the 3rd aircraft he built, and none of them have fallen out of the skies yet.

What's so fun about packing your belongings into one small bag, getting sexually assaulted at a security checkpoint, and then spending the next four hours with your knees in your chest while the 500 pound guy next to you spills over into your seat?

Take-off, landing, and the sights outside the window. Traveling to somewhere new or visiting friends and family is a bonus.

I once received a rather sizable IDB voucher for a spur of the moment trip on a Friday night from SFO to Reno. When I got home, I called United and found flights I could apply the voucher towards just to fly somewhere the next day.

I get the best seat;
Nobody tells me my bag is too big;
I can't miss my flight;
I know when the pilot is lying;
I don't have to let anybody out;
I get to sleep with the copilot;
Nobody steals from my bag and leaves (or not) a little note;

However,
the seat doesn't recline
the service is terrible,
I can't get any sleep because some guy keeps talking in my ear;
no miles;
makes first class fares look cheap